Nantes 12 May 1778
Sir
Being inform’d of your arrival at Brest with Several Prises, I think it my duty to advise you, that William Lee Esqr. and Sole Agent of ye. united States of America has transmitted me his Commission, for to represent him in this Province, so that all Ships and Prises Arriving for ye. account of Congress ought to be to my adress.1
I Know from Mr. Williams that he pretends having a right to interfere, and he will perhaps allready have entertain’d you on this subject Therefore I think proper to Send you the inclosed Copy of Arthur Lee’s Esqr. Letter on that Same Subject,2 that You may govern yourself in Consequence, and expecting to hear from you I remain [&c.]
J.D. Schweighauser
L, DNA, PCC, item 168, vol. 1, pp. 65–6 (M247, roll 32). Addressed: “Captain Jones/of the Ranger/at Brest.” Docketed: “from Jno. Dl. Schweighauser Esqr./Nantes May 12th. 1778/recd. Brest May 16th. 1778/No 3.”
1. William Lee, before departing for Germany, had appointed Schweighauser to the post of Continental agent at Brest replacing Jonathan Williams, Jr. All the American Commissioners in France supported Lee’s action. Williams, not informed of the Commissioners’ determination, remained convinced he was the rightful agent and that Lee had no authority to appoint another. Not until 25 May and only after Williams had appealed to them did the Commissioners inform Williams of his replacement by Schweighauser. Benjamin Franklin Papers 26: lxvi–vii, 525–26.
2. See Arthur Lee to Jean-Daniel Schweighauser, Apr. 1778, above. The Committee of Commerce dismissed Thomas Morris from his post as Continental agent on 17 Dec. The reason given was that he had “unhappily preferred dissipation to business.” Smith, Letters of Delegates, 8: 428.
